Running Linux Apps (and Windows 11!) Inside Minecraft with WaylandCraft
Have you ever been deep in a Minecraft mining session and wished you could watch YouTube, edit an image, or look up a crafting recipe without alt-tabbing out of the game?
Thanks to an open-source project called WaylandCraft, you can now run real desktop applications directly inside your Minecraft world. By embedding a Wayland compositor into the game, your desktop windows exist as real, interactive floating objects inside the blocky universe.
In fact, you can push it so far that you can run an entire Windows 11 virtual machine right next to your Minecraft base. Here is a breakdown of what WaylandCraft is, how it works, and what it’s like to use it.
What is WaylandCraft?
In the Linux world, Wayland is the modern display protocol that controls how applications talk to your display server and render windows on your screen.
WaylandCraft takes this concept and turns Minecraft into the display compositor itself. Instead of rendering windows onto your physical desktop monitor, it projects actual Linux desktop apps onto flat planes inside Minecraft. You can place them on walls, hang them in mid-air, resize them, or even carry them around in your character's hand.
What You Need to Get Started
Running WaylandCraft requires a Linux environment (such as Kubuntu or Ubuntu) and a few modding essentials:
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A Mod-Friendly Launcher: Prism Launcher makes installing modern Minecraft mods straightforward.
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Fabric Mod Loader: WaylandCraft runs as a Fabric mod.
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Performance Optimization: Installing Sodium helps maintain stable frame rates while rendering external applications.
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WaylandCraft Mod: Downloadable directly through Modrinth or the official WaylandCraft GitHub Repository.
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System Dependencies: Most standard Linux setups already have the necessary display libraries (
libxkbcommon,xwayland-satellite), making the setup largely plug-and-play.
Step-by-Step Setup
1. Create a Modded Instance
Open your launcher (like Prism Launcher), create a new Minecraft profile (instance), and select Fabric as your mod loader.
2. Add Mods
From the instance settings:
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Search and download Sodium for smooth performance.
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Search and download WaylandCraft via Modrinth or import the
.jarrelease directly from GitHub.
3. Launch and Configure
Boot into a single-player world. Once loaded, open your game settings to check the WaylandCraft keybindings. By default:
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V: Opens the application launcher. -
G: Toggles keyboard capture (allowing you to type directly into the focused window). -
B: Opens the window manager screen to resize, hide, or pin windows to your HUD/hand.
From Paint Apps to Full Virtual Machines
1. Basic Desktop Apps
Pressing the launcher key lets you open native Linux applications like photo editors, web browsers, or terminal emulators.
You can walk up to a canvas, click on it with your in-game crosshair, and draw or browse the web with full mouse and keyboard responsiveness. You can even grab the window and pin it so it stays visible wherever you look.
2. The Ultimate Test: Windows 11 Inside Minecraft
Why stop at simple apps? Because WaylandCraft allows full desktop interaction, you can run virtual machine managers inside Minecraft:
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Launch your package manager (like KDE Discover) to install Virt-Manager (
libvirt). -
Download a standard Windows 11 ISO from a web browser launched in-game.
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Create a virtual machine with UEFI and virtual TPM enabled, assigning it roughly 4 to 8 GB of RAM.
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Complete the Windows installer while standing next to an Iron Golem.
Once the setup finishes, you have a fully functional Windows 11 operating system running in real time on a floating screen inside a Minecraft world.
Final Thoughts
WaylandCraft is a prime example of the creative flexibility offered by open-source Linux software and Minecraft modding. While running Windows 11 inside Minecraft is mostly a fun novelty, the ability to dock music players, guides, or video streams directly inside the game world is surprisingly practical.
I’ve also made a video on this topic — you can watch it below.
Check out my other posts, I post useful tutorials and tech tips, maybe you will find something useful 😉.
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